Questions Concerning Starting Up

[Tameika_87]

Hi I am 23 years old and photography is one of my passions. I am certainly not a beginner but I know I need to learn more. I want to earn money by doing what I love best but I live in a very small country town and it's not what you know it's whom you know.

So needless to say I am finding it very hard to get the word out. I have no qualifications but another woman who lives here has set up her own facebook page and is earning a mint and her photos are not (I believe) very professional. EDIT: I apologize if this came across as badmouthing the competition, I should have explained that I don't think (on a professional level) that a photogrpaher should cut the image of the client out in photoshop (where you can see parts of the client's skin and hair missing) paste it on another background and sell it.

So here is what I want to know. How do I get the word out that I am looking for clients? Do I need an ABN number and what sort of equipment would you recommend on a very tight budget? EDIT: I'm not looking at opening a business but what about selling my photos as prints for example, or taking photos of friends' children, what legalities or paperwork do I need to have/know?

I have a fujifilm S5600 but am thinking of upgrading. Can anyone tell me what a really good camera is at the moment.

Please feel free to check out my albums before you reply.

Thank you

[Jim Poor]

Originally Posted by Tameika_87

Hi I am 23 years old and photography is one of my passions. I am certainly not a beginner but I know I need to learn more. I want to earn money by doing what I love best but I live in a very small country town and it's not what you know it's who you know.

It's always whom you know.

. . .another woman who lives here has set up her own facebook page and is earning a mint and her photos are just horrible!! I could go on about how horrible they are but that is not why I am here.

Then why bring it up? Really? I'd really like to see this other person's work because based on what I saw in your albums, this bit sounds like sour grapes to me.

So here is what I want to know. How do I get the word out that I am looking for clients?

What sort of clients are you looking for? I looked at your albums and didn't see a single portrait type shot so what is it you are looking to "sell?"

. . . what sort of equipment would you recommend on a very tight budget?

Depends on the type of work you want to do, but if you have no clue about what equipment you need, are you really ready to start a business?

I have a fujifilm S5600 but am thinking of upgrading as I find it doesn't really get the shots I want nor does it do very well with night shots. Can anyone tell me what a really good camera is at the moment (relatively cheap thanks).

No such thing really. Relative to what? Google is your friend.

Please feel free to check out my albums before you reply.

I did, and based on what I saw, you have a long way to go before you open a photography business. You're getting ahead of yourself a bit.

[Sime]

I'd tend to think that Jim is really right on the money. Maybe keep at it as something you love, do a lot of reading, work on your technique and final product. Most of all, don't be disheartened by Jim or my reply - take it, convert it into positives and work at it.

One point to note - it never helps to bag your competition... be better than them, don't bad mouth them - it's not good karma :-)

Sime

[Jojie]

Originally Posted by Tameika_87

...but another woman who lives here has set up her own facebook page and is earning a mint and her photos are just horrible!!

sssshhh!! not a good start in your end.. makes you look bad

I could go on about how horrible they are but that is not why I am here.

good news to hear!! that's the spirit

Do I need an ABN number (because hopefully down the track I am going to be dealing with money)

Any business transaction you requires an ABN. It's free to register. And you don't have to register for GST as well unless you earn I think 75k per year? But best go to Australian Taxation Office Homepage for those sort of things.

If you are intending of using a business name I think it's AUD$130 for 3years I think for NSW ONLY.. and each state you have to register again with Fair Traiding.. otherwise you have to set up a company name which I believe about 2k PER YEAR if you want it recognized Nationally.... - but again best to go to ato.gov.au and read up on that... .. they're just from what I read up on in the past..


Parkes is a small community as far as I know.. But you guys have Elvis there!!!

As far as your photographic prowess... keep going. you can only go up. I've been taking photos just under 3 years now.... and each year more invovled meaning when I started I was using the digital features !! erm.. that's click and click and hope it gets a shot.. to now where I mix the old and the new.. and that is.. I still click a lot but I think of them shots first if it's worth it then click...

erm.. back to that.. I am too thinking of going in this line... but I haven't jumped into it yet.. because I want to be in a position where if I where to do a shoot I know exactly (more or less) what to do and how to do it best... so I'm still in training.. Parkes is a nice place hmm.. going there this October long weekend.. well . Dubbo actually.

[candidrachel]

Here's my take on things:

You don't have to be the best photographer your town has ever seen but you need to heavily market yourself and carve out a niche for yourself that makes YOU stand out from the crowd. Offer something "different".

The lady in your town who is "horrible" is probably "awesome" to some such is the nature of photography.

I'm "starting up" too but its all very much behind the scenes as I have tons and tons to learn and have done since May 09 when I rediscovered my passion for photography seriously and have already learnt so much more since.

I agree with the other 2 replies but in particular Simes advice of read, read, study, practice and practice some more.

My mottos are "Carry on Regardless!" and "Smile! Don't let the Buggers grind you down!"

Hope this helps somewhat.

[Peter Ahrens]

Many photographers use their personal name as the name of the business.

If you do that, you don't have to pay to register you name - when you fill out the form for the ABN you'll see that.

[elkidogz]

I don't know if starting your own business is the right avenue right at the moment, perhaps working for a photographer as a second shooter, or something along those lines so you can learn while you earn is a good idea? I think you've got some talent, but need to refine your business skills and learning from someone who is established is often the best way to do just that.

[Tameika_87]

Thank you to all who replied. I do realize that I have a long way to go and I didn't mean to imply that I was looking at opening a business at this time. I just wanted to know what the options were for the future if I ever needed to head that way. As it I am more interested in keeping it on the side more as a hobby then anything else.

I am currently looking into doing courses or being taken in as an apprentice. And in regards to Jim's comments (which I do appreciate) I ask only this: would you take photos of a client, then cut their image out in photoshop (where you can clearly see parts of their arm and hair missing), paste it on a new background and then sell it? To me that just seems wrong in a professional sense especially if you are dealing with a clients money.

I will make the question simplier - which is better? Canon or Nikon. They seem to be two of the most popular cameras around. I have heard that you can get a lot of lenses and such for canon but I guess I am just interested in what other people have to say.

Once again thank you

[Jim Poor]

. . .which is better? Canon or Nikon. . .

You're kidding right?

[Jim Poor]

I missed this part:

. . . And in regards to Jim's comments (which I do appreciate) I ask only this: would you take photos of a client, then cut their image out in photoshop (where you can clearly see parts of their arm and hair missing), paste it on a new background and then sell it? To me that just seems wrong in a professional sense especially if you are dealing with a clients money.

Nope, I wouldn't do that, but then again, I wouldn't start a sentence with "And" either. Yep, that could be seen as a juvenile remark, but it was done for a purpose. Your grammar has nothing to with mine just as the other woman's work has nothing to do with you.

Once again, you're going down the road you said you wouldn't travel. I have a few simple guidelines that may or may not be totally irrelevant to you and everyone else on here.

1. If you are going to criticize, then be brave enough to show the work you are critiquing. All of this "I know a woman who . . ." without actually showing who that woman is doesn't fly with me. If you can't or won't name names and show examples, then don't bring it up, period. Honestly, you shouldn't have brought it up at all. You know that, but you did it anyway.

2. If you want to be taken seriously, then start putting in some effort on your own. I mean use the search function. A quick search would show you that the Nikon / Canon question has been brought up over and over and yet remains unanswered. Why? Because it is a question that cannot be answered by anyone but the user. Which is better? The one you have and are comfortable using.

If you want critique on your photos, put them in the critique section rather than having us go looking for them in an album.

There are many of us on here who like to help (yep, as gruff as I sound, I like to help too but expect you to do your share which you haven't thus far) but we don't like it when posters make it harder than it has to be for us to give advice.